Trainer realistic about Charitable Man’s chances

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Kiaran McLaughlin had hoped for better in the Jim Dandy, but Charitable Man couldn’t come through for his trainer, finishing third as the favorite behind Kensei and Warrior’s Reward.

McLaughlin isn’t going to hope for the moon in Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes at the Spa. Charitable Man will be facing Kensei and Warrior’s Reward in the Midsummer Derby, as well as Quality Road and Summer Bird.

“I really don’t know,” McLaughlin said when asked what he thought his horse would do in the Travers. “It’s a very tough race. We might rebound and still finish fourth. We could run our ‘A’ race and finish fourth.”

Charitable Man got a lot of attention in the spring after he won the Grade II Peter Pan. Next was the Belmont Stakes, but he could manage only fourth, beaten by 6¾ lengths by Summer Bird.

McLaughlin knows the son of 1999 Belmont/Travers winner Lemon Drop Kid has talent. He just has to put it all together. Maybe it will be Travers Day.

One change McLaughlin has made is putting Ramon Dominguez on the back of the colt; Alan Garcia had ridden Charitable Man in his first six starts.

Dominguez has worked the colt once up here.

“He went great when I breezed him,” Dominguez said after the first race Thursday. “I really don’t know what to expect from him. I will just try to watch his previous races and get as much information as I can.”